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Brittany and Benjamin Hakimfar renovated their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to the state where Brittany grew up. Their project focused less on structural changes than on making the house’s expansive rooms feel intimate, with varied materials and spaces for family life, entertaining and retreat.
Interior designer Brittany Hakimfar and her family reshaped their Philadelphia home after moving from the West Coast to the state where she grew up, prioritizing intimate gathering spaces over the house’s expansive proportions. In a Livingetc home tour, Hakimfar describes a renovation built around layered materials, varied moods and practical areas for family life and entertaining, rather than major structural work.
Hakimfar, who runs the interior design practice Far Studio with her husband, Benjamin, said the move back to Pennsylvania was significant for the family. She had worked in both New York and Los Angeles before returning to her home state. The couple’s three children are Liv, nine; Leo, seven; and Lex, three, according to the report.
The house needed little structural work, but its large rooms and generous proportions called for a different approach to how the family used them. Hakimfar said the goal was to create spaces for entertaining, family time, reading, music and quiet retreat. The resulting rooms range from a light entry and coffee-and-cream sitting room to a gray-blue library and music room and a charcoal attic den.
The design mixes pale oak and plaster with dark tile, richly colored woods and patterned wallpaper. A custom steel-and-glass front door was added to bring more light into the entry. Other features include a bar with blackened steel and glass shelving, a bathroom finished in black zellige tile, and a steam shower in the attic area. The kitchen and family room serve as everyday hubs, with bluestone flooring, white-oak cabinetry and dark metal accents.
Turning Expansive Rooms Into Family Spaces
The project offers a specific example of a renovation shaped by a family’s routines rather than by a need to alter the building’s structure. Hakimfar’s account centers on how scale affects daily use: rooms can be large yet feel less welcoming if their layout does not support gathering or quieter activities.
For readers considering a move or renovation, the report also shows how a home can reflect more than one influence. Hakimfar brought aspects of the understated finishes she associated with Los Angeles together with a darker, more textured palette, while adapting the rooms to the family’s needs. The story does not establish that this approach will suit every house; it documents the choices made in this particular home.
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From West Coast to Pennsylvania
The couple moved from the West Coast to Philadelphia, returning to the state where Hakimfar grew up. She described that decision as a major one for the family, especially after working in both New York and Los Angeles. The source does not provide a precise date for the move or renovation.
Before the redesign, Hakimfar recalled interiors that were extremely dark and said she wanted to change every surface. The renovation retained some dramatic darkness but introduced more variation through wall finishes, furnishings and contrasting materials. The source notes that the house required little structural work; its main challenge was making the rooms feel more intimate and functional.
“Moving back to the state where I grew up, having worked both in New York and LA, was a big deal for us.”
— Brittany Hakimfar, homeowner and designer
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Project Timeline and Costs Not Reported
Livingetc’s report does not give the cost, start date or total duration of the renovation. Hakimfar said the work took years longer to finish because she sometimes redirected carpenters to other jobs, but no detailed schedule is provided. The source also does not identify the contractors, list permit details or provide independent assessments of the design or construction.
The account is a homeowner and designer’s description of the project, not a comparison of renovation outcomes or a report on property values. It is not clear whether every room shown in the tour was completed at the same time or how the family’s plans may change as the children grow.
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The Family’s Home Life Continues
The source describes the home as an ongoing base for the Hakimfar family and their work, rather than announcing a new renovation phase. Hakimfar said the family enjoys using the attic retreat after the children go to bed and values the neighborhood’s seasonal changes. No next project or further construction milestone is identified in the report.
Any future updates would need to come from the family or Far Studio; the published account does not set out a schedule for additional work.
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Key Questions
Who renovated the Philadelphia home?
Brittany Hakimfar, an interior designer and co-founder of Far Studio with her husband, Benjamin, led the design of the family home, according to Livingetc.
Why did the family focus on making the rooms feel intimate?
The house had expansive proportions, and the family wanted a layout that supported gathering, entertaining, reading, music and quiet time rather than emphasizing the size of the rooms.
What design elements appear in the renovation?
The home combines pale oak and plaster with dark zellige tile, patterned wallpaper, rich wood and varied stone. The report also describes a steel-and-glass front door, a bar and a steam shower.
Did the project involve major structural changes?
Hakimfar said the home required little structural work. The reported focus was on finishes, furnishing and arranging the rooms for family use.
How much did the renovation cost, and how long did it take?
The report does not provide a budget or exact timeline. Hakimfar said the work took years longer than expected, in part because she redirected carpenters to other jobs.
Source: rss
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